Chapter 6: 006

Chapter 6

Master Fu got drunk, and it was Fu Ming Shi who carried him down the mountain. Zhen Bao ran home, and quickly tidied up her father's bedroom, changing the sheets and quilt to clean cool mats and blankets. Just as she finished, she heard the geese honking in the yard. She went out to the balcony and saw that the big white geese had blocked the door again, not letting Fu Ming Shi in.

Zhen Bao hurried to go get him.

Fu Ming Shi followed behind her as they went inside. Seeing the aggressive big white geese eyeing him, his calves ached a bit.

As they climbed to the second floor and passed by Zhen Bao's bedroom, since the door was open, Fu Ming Shi unintentionally glanced inside. The small ten-square-meter room had light green wallpaper on the walls, the floor was rammed earth, to the north was a homemade wooden bed with bamboo mats and a pink quilt and pillowcases.

Next to the bed was a similarly homemade small bookcase, neatly lined with several rows of books. The big red covers of the Xinhua Dictionary and an English-Chinese dictionary were particularly eye-catching, like the desk essentials of a high school student.

"I just tidied up the room, it's a bit messy." Knowing they were wealthy people, looking at her own shabby room, Zhen Bao felt awkward.

"He likes living in old houses," Fu Ming Shi carefully placed the sleeping Master Fu onto the bed. In the summer heat, he only loosened the collar and sleeves of the Master's outfit, and didn't touch the light green summer quilt on the bed.

"I'll go get some water to wipe Grandpa Fu's face." Having settled him for now, Zhen Bao turned to leave. Reaching the door, she seemed to hear Fu Ming Shi following behind, and looked back in puzzlement.

Fu Ming Shi looked at her calmly, "I'll take care of the Master, you go wash up."

Zhen Bao only then remembered that she had also been crying and was sweaty from running home...

Neither wanted to face people while dirty, Zhen Bao's face flushed red, acquiescing to Fu Ming Shi's arrangement and hurried downstairs. She first put out a basin of water for Fu Ming Shi before collecting the laundry drying in the backyard and going next door to Auntie Guo's house to wash up and tidy herself before returning home.

No one was on the first floor. Zhen Bao slowly went upstairs.

Fu Ming Shi sat at the bedside watching over the old Master. Hearing movement, he turned his head to look out.

Zhen Bao felt guilty about offending him before, and avoided his gaze as she softly asked the old Master, "Do you want some water?"

Fu Ming Shi said, "No need, you tidy up and pack, we'll set off tomorrow morning."

The Master needed medical treatment, and he had business to take care of too, no more time to waste.

At the mention of going to the capital, Zhen Bao's expression darkened as she turned and went back to her own bedroom, closing the door and sitting on the bed in a daze. In all her years, the farthest she had gone was the county town over a hundred miles away. A big city like the capital she had only seen on TV.

How would she live once she got there?

She had a little over 2000 yuan in savings, the chickens could sell for 400-500 yuan, the geese...

Zhen Bao couldn't bear to sell the geese. Chickens only laid eggs while the geese could watch the house. When she went fishing, they would even help catch small fish.

And there was Hei Dan. Zhen Bao couldn't part with him either.

~

At dusk Auntie Guo next door invited them over for dinner. Master Fu had also woken up, washed his face, and was spirited.

"Is everything packed up at Phoenix Store?" Master Fu asked Zhen Bao after the meal.

Zhen Bao kept her head lowered.

Seeing Hei Dan circling around her, Master Fu laughed. "Couldn't bear to part with Hei Dan? Don't worry, we'll bring Hei Dan with us." City folks all liked pet dogs, like Pomeranians, Huskies, Poodles and the like. Master Fu just liked local dogs, honest and obedient, easy to feed, without so many delicate temperaments.

Zhen Bao's eyes lit up as she looked towards the goose pen, "Can the geese come too?"

Master Fu was rendered speechless for a moment. Seeing Zhen Bao's disappointed look, he quickly added, "Of course, of course! Ming Shi's villa has a swimming pool, and a lake in the backyard, perfect for them to paddle around in."

Zhen Bao looked to Fu Ming Shi for confirmation.

Fu Ming Shi couldn't imagine the swimming pool occupied by a flock of geese, but he didn't want to dampen Zhen Bao's spirits, only reminding her of one thing, "Transporting pets requires quarantine paperwork."

Master Fu immediately said, "That's easy to arrange. I'll take Hei Dan and the geese to City C tonight. You two set off tomorrow morning, the paperwork will definitely be ready by the time you get to the airport." Getting certification might take regular folks a few days, but with the Fu family's money and connections, this little matter was no worry.

"You're leaving now?" Zhen Bao asked in surprise. Fu Ming Shi also frowned at the old Master.

Master Fu put on a stern face and lied to Zhen Bao, "Grandpa has an appointment with the doctor, I must get back tonight. Feng Bao, take your time packing, no rush." After which he instructed Fu Ming Shi, "Feng Bao is going so far from home for the first time, take good care of her on the way."

When Zhen Bao wasn't looking, he secretly winked.

After explaining things to Auntie Guo, Fu Ming Shi accompanied Zhen Bao upstairs to get her luggage.

Zhen Bao had a suitcase that cost a few dozen yuan, stuffed full. Fu Ming Shi picked it up with some difficulty, immediately setting it back down to ask what she had packed. Thinking he found it too heavy, Zhen Bao wanted to carry it herself, but Fu Ming Shi took in the bare bookcase in the corner, blocked Zhen Bao, and crouched down to open the suitcase.

The bottom was filled with clothes, the top with a stack of books, all senior year textbooks, including the two brick-like dictionaries.

"Are you self-studying?" Fu Ming Shi flipped open a well-worn English textbook, surprised as he asked.

Zhen Bao shook her head, truthfully answering: "No self-studying, I was bored home alone, just passing time."

She liked reading, and after dropping out would get bored at home, borrowing books from a neighbor girl in the village who got into college, and was given all of them by her.

Fu Ming Shi was struck by a thought. Standing up he looked at Zhen Bao and said, "I'll help you transfer to a school in Beijing, then hire tutors to coach you intensively for a month. Study well and take the college entrance exam in June this year."

Using connections he could easily get her a fake college diploma, but since Zhen Bao liked reading herself, Fu Ming Shi wanted to see what grades she could get relying solely on her own ability.

"The college exam?" Zhen Bao didn't have much confidence. "Can I get in?"

"We won't know until you take it." Fu Ming Shi took his own suitcase and retreated out the door. "Just bring two changes of clothes, leave everything else. I'll buy you new books in Beijing."

Not waiting for Zhen Bao to refuse, he left first.

Zhen Bao eyed her big suitcase and Fu Ming Shi's high-end luggage placed together, seeming a little jarring. She obediently picked two of her favorite outfits and transferred them over, sneakily stuffing her underwear and bras into her shirtsleeves, lest Fu Ming Shi see them when opening the case.

Zipping it closed, Zhen Bao carried the suitcase out. As soon as she stepped through the door, she saw Fu Ming Shi already standing to the side, still in a black suit, posture upright.

Without a word Fu Ming Shi bent down to take her suitcase, walking straight for the stairs.

Zhen Bao silently followed behind, gazing at her unfamiliar "fiance's" back, then looking back at the familiar shabby furniture on the first floor. She suddenly felt as if in a dream.

"You sit here." Fu Ming Shi put down the luggage and came over to open the passenger door for her.

Zhen Bao slowly walked over and got into the "black car", the black Volkswagen.

The door closed. After footsteps sounded, Fu Ming Shi circled around to get in on the other side. Sitting down, his legs looked even longer.

"Seatbelt." Fu Ming Shi first reversed the car, ready to set off, and noticed her shoulders were empty. He casually reminded her.

Zhen Bao lowered her head, looking around unable to find which one was the seatbelt.

This was her first time in a sedan. Before this she had only taken buses and vans.

Unable to find the seatbelt, and feeling the man's gaze on her, Zhen Bao was extremely embarrassed.

"Like this." Fu Ming Shi turned to the side, reaching over to pull the seatbelt.

Zhen Bao pursed her lips, watching his hands. Just as she was about to take it, Fu Ming Shi had already started adjusting the belt for her.

Zhen Bao could only sit perfectly still, wanting to see how to do it. But as soon as she lowered her head, she saw the seatbelt was positioned right across her chest.

Zhen Bao's face flushed crimson, mortified as she turned her head away.

Fu Ming Shi also didn't expect her petite frame to make the seatbelt's effect so prominent. He had wanted to demonstrate buckling it for her, but catching sight of her red neck, he no longer had the mood to teach her. Hurriedly fastening the seatbelt for her, he turned back around to grip the steering wheel, eyes fixed straight ahead.

The car drove a long way before Zhen Bao finally righted her head.

The atmosphere in the car felt a little tense, at least to Fu Ming Shi. Her sitting like that was also distracting him.

"I have games on my phone, want to play some?" Fu Ming Shi parked the car on the side of the road, holding up his phone as he asked.

"What games?" Zhen Bao finally turned around, her face still a bit red.

"Wait a sec." Fu Ming Shi first searched for casual games popular with girls, then picked out ones she might like and downloaded them.

Zhen Bao watched the phone screen eagerly.

Fu Ming Shi downloaded a dress-up game for her.